War as Old as Time Itself

Summary:Three months after The Battle For Earth, a mysterious mech abducts Optimus Prime from Cybertron and so his friends find themselves needing help to find him. A strange group departs their planet for the journey, while Optimus slowly mends gaps between his own people and the gaps with their greatest enemy.

A/N: Hi! Another chapter, rather long, too. I don't have much to say, but I would like to thank my reviewers for being so wonderful, especially skyice98, Gunmetal2017 and Bigbucks, who have so far reviewed every chapter. You're all wonderful! *hugs*

WARNINGS: Angst, robot sex, OOC-ness, Cybertronian swearing.

As a sultry song played in the background, the blue servo of one Optimus Prime reached for another shot of Vosian visco and easily drank it in one go. As soon as his cup was down, the bartender, a pretty blue organic with four big eyes and round fingers, shorter than him by five heads, refilled it with a wink, leaving her equivalent of this planet's phone number beside his cup. Optimus ignored the slip of paper as he took the visco and downed it just as quickly as he had the last one, before leaning heavily on his servos, optics trained on a spot of oil in front if his face.

He could hear the other female guests giggling in his direction, talking to each other how he was far too handsome to be of a different species and how it was such a shame he was not organic. On the other side of the bar, he saw some Kukuzor mech looking him up and down shamelessly and it made him feel sick to his tanks. He was not an energon goodie for them all to stare at him like that! He was a Primus-created Prime! Not that any of them knew that. Besides, the people of Liki 9 were known not only for being the best farmers of crystals but also for their sexual appetite and their shamelessness when it came to pursuing partners.

While he had been crying on Alpha Trion's offlined chestplates, their ships had received a hail from the planet that had witnessed the battle. Having seen that the Quintessons were about to blow the to kingdom come, the residents of Liki 9 had prepared themselves for the worse. Luckily, Optimus's sword, the Hunter, had quite easily absorbed all of the energy from the explosion so no damage was caused whatsoever. Feeling immense gratitude towards the young Prime, they had insisted that their savior and his friends all come down planet-side so they can reward them for their bravery. Optimus shook hands with the organic who was responsible for running the planet, a nice female with orange skin and slanted four eyes, before they were promised that whatever they decided to purchase on the planet was for free, except the raw crystals themselves.

His friends were excited and Ironhide dragged Blackarachnia off so the femme could fulfill her promise of helping him find a present for the femme he wanted to court. The seekers all went to a bar as soon as Ratchet, Artemis and First Aid gave them a clean bill. Strika went to purchase star maps and weapons, Lugnut following her like a lost cyberpup after Megatron told him he wanted to be left alone. He must have wanted to have some alone time with Optimus, but the Prime had been long gone by the time the tyrant had shook off all of his followers. He had seen Blurr and Shockwave going into the town, and he knew that Sari, Bumblebee, the Jettwins and Blitzwing had went out exploring. Bulkhead had went into an art gallery while Brawn and Hot Shot took Optimus's lead and disappeared off to somewhere. He didn't know for the others, but he could guess that Lockdown was trying to get Prowl to go on a short date with him and he wondered if Jazz was going to follow them to keep an optic on them or if he will try to find the youngsters before they get lost. Ultra Magnus was staying with Sigma, the two finally getting some time to really talk to each other and Cyclonus was ordered to berthrest after Ratchet found that the glitch had been leaking for quite some time without ever telling anyone, so he guessed that Hot Rod will stay with him. Roller and Artemis had tried to follow him like Megatron had, but Optimus had easily lost them in the crowded streets.

Optimus took another shot of his visco, not even caring that he shouldn't be drinking such rich energon. He was not a seeker or a flightframe, despite him having wings now. His tanks weren't meant for it, but he couldn't give a slag. It worked fast and it was strong, probably one of the only things that could mess with a Prime's soberness. He didn't want to be aware and sober, to be able to so accurately feel that hollowness caused by the twelve missing sparks he had been aware of since he was created only to never feel them again after he was reborn. He wanted to forget, even if for a moment, that he was a lone Prime in a time that didn't remember them nor respect him and his brethren and all they had done for this accursed Universe.

After he had put Alpha Trion down, answered the hail and fixed Alpha Supreme with the energy from the Omega Lock he still had with him, Optimus had been on autopilot, right up to the point when he had entered this bar and stopped himself from asking for high grade and instead ordered visco. That had been over two joors ago and he should be heading out soon. It's going to get dark soon, if the local he had asked when nightfall is is to be believed, and the deal had been that they return at nightfall so they could rest and then they're to leave for Cybertron in the morning. It had only been approved of because Strika, too, had wanted to mourn Trion and Optimus suspected that she was off somewhere drinking like he was. He wouldn't be surprised, Alpha Trion had saved her life and her freedom. She had stayed with him for half an orn and had built a strong if strange friendship with his brother.

Realizing that his systems were starting to protest the visco, Optimus gave in and asked for a barrel of warm oil. It was served just as quickly as all his other orders were and Optimus had to remember to tip the bartender, she was sent by Primus, he was sure, just to serve him tonight. Unlike the visco, he sipped at the warm liquid and enjoyed the warmth it spread through his overstressed systems. His tanks sang at the addition of something that might help them work through the visco and Optimus relaxed back against the bar.

Tomorrow, he might just lose the rest of his friends. He has a plan as to how to protect Cybertron and give its people quite a few protectors in the process, but it will cost him his secret. He didn't know how they will react but he was sure that they will at least feel betrayed. He had already faced the fact that Megatron will probably leave him, Blackarachnia will never trust him again and who knows what the rest will do. Artemis will stay with him, or at least try to... And even if his friends don't leave, they'll stop being his friends. They'll just treat him how his status befits and he'll be alone in a room full of mechs and femmes... all over again, like he had been before Elita One took pity on the little sparkling he had been, like it had been after the incident on Archa Seven. Everyone will keep him out as much as he will keep them out, they no longer trusting him, he not wanting to get hurt.

But what hurt the most was that he could have told Megatron, should have told him from the beginning, instead now fearing and wondering if the Decepticon Lord will break their bond. Optimus snorted, taking a large gulp of his oil. Of course Megatron will break their bond, no matter how the termination of a bond hurts. If there was one thing Megatron hated, besides stupidity and Autobot way of ruling, it was traitors. Starscream was forgiven because he had lost his trine, their and his own sparkling and his mate in the war under Megatron's leadership, so the Decepticon Supreme Leader understood and tolerated the seeker for many stellar cycles.

What could Optimus possible say as his defense? Would he even be allowed to defend himself? Would any of them even want to listen? Would anyone even believe him about his origin story? He knows that in times such as these, when prayers to his Creator consisted of only "Dear Primus!" in surprise or horror, it is very farfetched that the Thirteen Primes even existed, that he and his brothers and sister were considered nothing more but myth or fictional beings the First Generation made up for no apparent logical reason. Why would a bunch of atheists believe him? Sure, they say they believe in Primus, but when they say Primus, they mean the Allspark, and while the Allspark is a fragment of Primus's Spark, it is also part of what Optimus once was. In fact, he was more the creator of the Allspark than Primus was, because it had been his idea. Primus had been very much content with his thirteen children. It was Optimus who had wanted more life on their planet and it was Optimus who had began the process of turning the energy in his spark, still so pure as if he had never seen shed energon nor battle, that would turn him, both body and spark, into a relic that gave life.

Primus had given him his blessing to stop his brothers however he saw fit.

Optimus decided to create a race they will have to sparklingsit for the rest of their lives.

Despersing his own crystallized once spark to keep it from Megatron... It was an easy decision, even if he had not known at the time that the Allspark was his. It had been weird, but he had had a mission back then, a task he couldn't fail at, and that was to keep the Allspark from Decepticon servos. He should have been courtmartailed, but what would that accomplish? It wouldn't have brought the Allspark back, while his presence alone made it react. Had he not been in the same city as Prowl and Jazz when the two ninja bots tried to out it back together... Well, Prowl would have died for nothing.

''You're a hard bot to find.'' An, usually, obnoxious voice said behind him,startling him and making his audio finials stand up. Sentinel chuckled at the well-known reaction of his friend and sat beside the other Prime, ordering a barrel of oil and turning to look at his friend. He noticed the cup that had held visco up until that point and when Sentinel recognized the liguid, he turned horrified optics on the red and blue Prime. ''Are you glitched, Optimus?! Please don't tell me you've been drinking Vosian visco!''

''Fine, I won't tell you I've been drinking Vosian visco.'' Was the deadpan reply, making Sentinel fume.

''Your tanks are not made for visco, Optimus! You could have seriously hurt your systems.'' The blue and orange Prime growled at his companion, making Optimus give him a very flat look that only infuriated Sentinel more. ''You're not purposefully trying to hurt yourself, are you?'' He asked with worry clear in his voice.

''No, Sentinel, I'm not and I'm fine.'' Came the sighed reply. ''I only want to be left alone to mourn, so if you don't mind,'' He didn't have to finish it as he gulped down the rest of his oil and then ordered high grade. Sentinel scowled when the bartender immediately served Optimus, and only after a few more minutes gave Sentinel his oil but he ignored it for the moment.

''Actually, I do mind. This isn't like you. I know you and Elita used to go for a drink or five, but you never drank alone and you very rarely got overcharged. Yet, now, as we're talking, I can detect a subtle slur to your words.'' The big-chinned Prime took a sip of his own drink, frowning when Optimus kicked back his high grade like it was low grade energon and asked for another. ''Good stuff.''

''I prefer Cybertronian.'' Was all the reply he got before Optimus took half of his cup's contents in one go and left the rest for his next intake.

''Why are you pushing me away, Optimus?'' The other finally asked. ''Better yet, why are you pushing everyone away, including Megatron?'' Optimus was quiet, thinking of his bonded and feeling over their bond that Megatron was searching for him, worried. It made his spark clench, knowing what a wonderful mate he has, yet also knowing that he will probably lose that same mate in a matter of days. ''What are you afraid of?''

This got Optimus's full attention. He locked his royal blue optics with Sentinel's, such a familiar shade of blue actually showing worry for him instead contempt like the past thousand years. ''What makes you think I'm afraid of something?'' He answered his question with another question, something he knew Sentinel hated from the very bottom of his spark and being. And true enough, his friend twitched, but didn't raise to the bait. Would you look at that; Sentinel was learning.

''I may not be your Amica Endura, but I do know you, Optimus. The only times you withdraw from everyone is when you're insecure or afraid. Even Alpha Trion, Primus bless his old spark, was no exception.'' Optimus flinched at the mention of both his brother and his Carrier. Sentinel's annoyance immediately turned to concern and worry, softening his features. ''You don't have to bear the fate of the universe on your shoulderstruts, Optimus.'' (if only Sentinel knew) ''At least, not alone. You have friends who would give their lives for you,'' And here the younger (as far as Sentinel knew) mech looked like he was going to purge his tanks. ''Who trust in you and believe in you. Why not share some of the burden with them?''

''Because it is only my burden to bare, and not only that, but I don't want any more mechs to die because of me.''

''What are you talking about Optimus?''

''Elita One, Blackarachnia, Prowl, Primal Major and now Alpha Trion. They all died because of me, either trying to protect me or believing in me. I wasn't strong enough or fast enough to save them, so they died.'' The other said in an almost hallow voice.

''Optimus, Elita One and Blackarachnia are one and the same, as you already know, and she's alive-''

''SHE DIED TWICE BECAUSE OF ME!''

''-and so is Prowl. As for Alpha Trion and Primal Major... I'm sure they wouldn't want you kicking yourself over their deaths. Like you said, they died believing in you and protecting you. Aren't you disrespecting them by mourning their sacrifice instead of being thankful for it and praying to Primus to give them peace in the Well? Isn't that what you had once told that old commander, what was his name? Scratch, or something, while we were still in the Academy, remember? He came back from a mission as the only survivor, with whatever objective they were sent out to complete finished, and he was mourning them and you told him that without sacrifice, there was no victory, told him that crying over that sacrifice only belittled everything the others had fought for and believed in. If it applied to him, why can't it apply to you?''

Optimus looked at Sentinel and actually cracked a small smile. ''Who are you and what have you done with my obnoxious friend, the real Sentinel Prime?''

Said bot snorted despite his best efforts and that smile spread a little more. ''Good to see you coming back to your old, annoyingly sarcastic self.'' Sentinel said with another sip at his drink. Optimus finished his and ordered another, finishing that one just as quickly, but not drinking the next one immediately. ''So, why are you keeping Megatron out?'' The red and blue bot looked at his companion, taking the first sip of his drink. He actually savored the taste this time, some of the sadness gone with his first smile since Alpha Trion's death. ''He's worried bonkers, you know? Searching the town and I think he even demanded from Alpha Supreme to give him your location, but the shipformer said he doesn't know. Is that true or did you tell him to say that?''

''Alpha doesn't know where I am.''

''You're still not answering the important question.'' Sentinel pointed out with an accusing tilt to his voice. Optimus sighed, wondering if having Sentinel as a friend, a true, good one this time, was more trouble than it was worth. ''I am not leaving until you answer.''

''I don't want him feeling my pain right now. He'll want to alleviate it, but he can't and it will only make him frustrated and even more worried.'' It was one of the reasons Optimus didn't want to go to Megatron just yet. Besides, he had not wanted to be comforted. He had still yet to allow the Matrix of Leadership to do its job and protect his spark from his own turmoil. ''Besides, I'd have to explain what happened with me and that Quintesson, too. And with the sword and the explosion... I didn't feel up to it.''

''By the way, what is up with that Quintesson?'' The blue and orange Elite Guard member asked curiously and Optimus chuckled at the way Sentinel completely ignored the fact Optimus had just told him he didn't want to discus it. ''He looks like your Second in Command.''

''They're related, Sentinel.'' It must have been the visco, oil and high grade making him open up. Optimus only hoped that his inhibitions stayed long enough that he didn't reveal anything vital to his secrets. ''Artemis is his mother's brother, his uncle, he called him, Sari said that it's the same on Earth.''

''Whatever.'' He waved it off, taking another sip of his oil and seeing that he was almost at the end, ordered another one. ''So, what's up with him?''

''He's Quintessa's only son, meaning that he's her heir and the current younger Prince of the Quintessons, Artemis being the older. He wanted revenge for the death of Pepest, his father figure. A sire,'' He explained when Sentinel shot him a strange look at the organic title of parenthood. ''He thought it was Alpha Trion,'' He almost shocked on his own glossa while he made the name pass through his vocalizer and down his drink, asking for another. ''That killed Pepest, he fought Artemis because he was protecting him and when I revealed it was me, he decided to blow us all up. I managed to figure out how the sword worked and somehow absorbed the impact of the explosion, thus saving us all, then I found Megatron... Well, actually, he found me and we returned together, then we dragged in Thamast, the other Quintesson, in and he's in the cell on Sigma Supreme right now.''

''What do you plan to do with him?''

Optimus shrugged. ''Give him a message he's going to deliver to his mother as soon as they find his pod.''

''You're going to let him go, just like that?''

He got himself a rather strange look at that. ''If you think I'll indulge in petty revenge, then you don't know me at all ,Sentinel.'' Optimus knocked back his drink and asked for another, getting it just as Sentinel got his own second barrel of oil. ''But, yes. I'll let him go. He only wanted justice for his uncle, and despite it being a sick and twisted form of justice, he grew up knowing nothing else, no real justice. That's why I'm going to punish Quintessa herself, and not her son.''

Sentinel did the biggest spit-take Optimus had ever seen, almost spraying over other guests on nearby tables. The bartender tsked at him, but didn't do anything else but call a cleaning drone to wipe up the mess. Sentinel turned back to Optimus after getting his coughing under control. ''Are you experiencing a malfunction?'' Blue optics were wide with shock and fear as they stared at the Last Prime. ''You'll never even get close to her! And besides, we need to protect Cybertron, not fight a futile battle! And even if you did, somehow, get to Quintessa, you saw what kind of fighters they are! I know you're good Optimus, but are you good enough to take her on and walk away with all of your limbs, or even just walk away?''

Optimus raised an optical ridge at this companion.

''Well? Do you think you could take her on and live?''

''Hmm,'' He appreciated his drink as he slowly sipped it, only to rail Sentinel up a little more. ''We'll just have to see, won't we?''

Sentinel's jaw dropped and Optimus laughed his first laugh since Alpha Trion offlined. The other shook his helm, but was glad to see that Optimus was doing somewhat better. It was a far cry from the red and blue bot's usual self, and it will be a long time before he accepted the old mech's death, but he was finally starting on that hard journey. ''You're insane.''

''Nope, that's Blitzwing.''

''I'm serious, Optimus!''

''So am I!''

They stared at each other before bursting out laughing, getting everyone's attention. The females all sighed dreamily at the sound of Optimus's laughter and the interested males grumbled for not being the ones to make that sound appear.

They stayed there until night time, Optimus too overcharged to walk on his own so Sentinel had to give him a piggyback ride, the younger Prime slumbering on his shoulder and mumbling things in his sleep Sentinel could never hope to understand. It made him think of old times, when Elita and Optimus would go out and get smashed, but Elita always managed to hold out from passing out until she got to her berth, while Optimus mostly passed out at the table or the bar. Elita would have barely enough bearings to comm Sentinel to come and escort them home, he being the only one she trusted not to cope a feel while carrying Optimus, and then they would make the trek from wherever the two got wasted to their rooms. Optimus used to murmur strange things back then, too, sometimes in the normal language everyone spoke in Iacon, some times in another dialect that they could place but didn't know and then there were times like now, when whatever it was he was trying to say sounded like gibberish.

The last time Sentinel had done this was after they returned from Archa Seven, minus Elita, and Optimus had gotten so wasted that had Sentinel not gotten a ping from the bar owner that Optimus had frequented with his Amica Endura and thus knew the once cadet, Optimus would have been raped that night by some shady character Sentinel to this day thought was a Decepticon sympathizer.

He briefly wondered what Megatron would do if he found out. He shuddered after a moment, knowing that the tyrant would have probably ripped the guy limb from limb if he got his clawed servos on him.

He was glad to see the ships not that far ahead of them and released a sigh of relief. Sure, he was strong and Optimus wasn't usually this heavy, but the Prime now had a jetpack integrated with his systems, he carried around a big sword and an equally big cannon and who knows what else. He was, as such, heavier than Sentinel remembered, and warmer too. He briefly wondered why he couldn't feel the thumping and swirling of Optimus's strong spark through their plating, like he usually always could when they were younger, but the sound of flight thrusters interrupted his inner musings.

He looked up just in time to see Megatron transform from his Cybertronian fighter jet mode into his root mode and the tyrant quickly observed the situation. When Sentinel felt scans running over both his and Optimus's frames, he held still and when it was over and the Decepticon sighed in relief, Sentinel relaxed as well. Megatron made a motion for the younger mech to hand over the warlord's mate and Sentinel didn't hesitate. All of the remaining tension left Megatron as soon as he had Optimus in his arms and Sentinel wondered if he would feel such peace and relief if he and Blackarachnia bonded and he held her close.

''Thank you for finding him. I had looked all over the place and was about to visit the nearest town to check thee.''

Sentinel was shocked by the sincerity of the words directed at him by the tyrant. He suddenly felt flustered for the gratitude and briefly wondered if this was how Optimus felt whenever someone thanked him for his kindness. ''It was nothing. He was just in a nearby bar, getting overcharged.'' He explained and Megatron nodded, inclined his helm and thanks once again and turned to leave, ready to bring his mate in for some recharge so he can work through the drinks he had consumed.

''Wait!''

Megatron turned to look at him, still holding Optimus close. Said mech had snuggled closer against the strong, beating spark of his lover and seemed content. ''Yes?''

''Please... Be careful with him. He thinks he should be blamed for everything bad that happens, so just... Take care of him and don't hurt him.''

Megatron gave him a considering look, as if not understanding Sentinel at all, but not his words, rather his actions. ''I wasn't plaining on doing so. But I will give you my solemn word that I will take care of him to the best of my ability. As for blaming himself for everything... I'll see what I can do to get rid of that martyr complex he seems to have.'' And with that, Megatron marched off with his beloved in his arms.

Sentinel's own beloved was waiting for him on board Sigma Supreme, a big, thankful and proud smile on her faceplates. When Sentinel raised an optic ridge at her, she just chuckled, leaned in to press a kiss to his cheekplate and sauntered off with only three words that warmed Sentinel's spark.

''You did good.''

00000

Optimus woke three joor later with a splitting helm-ache and protesting tanks. He looked at his chronometer and was surprised that he had slept only those three and half joors. Sentinel must have brought him back to his ship, because Optimus could feel Alpha's presence and he knew he was on his berth. And not only that, but there was a pair of strong arms around him, holding him close, making him feel loved, wanted and protected. Even if he wasn't bonded to Megatron, he would have known he was safe. Sentinel never left him out when he was overcharged, not even that one time after Elita's supposed death. He guessed that in his own way, Sentinel had been true friend from the beginning, though it would seem that separation of a thousand and fifty two stellar cycles, teaming up with Decepticons and a Quintesson and traveling through the Universe was what was needed for them to realize that they were practically as much Amica Endura as Optimus and Elita are.

'Maybe I should suggest it?'

Stirring from behind him drew his attention away from his complicated friendships to look at his bonded over his shoulderstrut and Optimus's spark sang at the sight of the still relaxed faceplate of his larger lover. Megatron was always so tense that Optimus had learned to treasure these few times he had seen Megatron with his guard somewhat down, because he was not foolish enough to believe a warframe ever had their guard fully down. He turned so he was facing Megatron, enjoying those darks servos tightening around him and drawing him closer, and he leaned in to get a closer look to the faceplates he had learned so easily to love. He reached a tentative servo up to the gray face and hesitated before stroking a finger over a strong cheek. Megatron twitched in his sleep, but he still remained in recharge. The red and blue Prime couldn't help but marvel at how relaxed Megatron was just by holding him.

Did he meant that much to the Decepticon?

If so, then perhaps Optimus had nothing to worry about and should just tell him who and just what he was...

Yet he still feared losing Megatron, if not to his true identity, than to the danger of being with a Prime.

Primes can not be selfish. As his siblings had proven over and over again, Primes put their people above themselves. They stand as a shield, protecting the weak and fighting the wicked. If there ever came a time he would need to take up the mantle of a Prime, he would have to leave Megatron behind and risk his very life and spark because of their bond... He didn't want Megaron to offline because of him. It was undignified that a warrior such as Megatron was to die because of his mate and not in a glorious battle.

''You think too loudly.'' Optimus nearly reached for the Star Saber when Megatron's rumbling voice shook him out of his thoughts, startling him enough that he actually squeaked. Megatron chuckled and drew his mate closer, kissing his crested helm and enjoying how Optimus melted against him, before drawing the smaller mech's face up so he could steal a real kiss. Optimus was more than happy to oblige, opening his mouth to that skilled glossa and letting Megatron ravish him.

In his emotional state and after all that potent energon he had consumed, Optimus was quick to arouse and just seeing his bonded so hot and bothered made Megatron's interfacing array more than interested. Knowing his mate was distressed and in need of a balanced combination of loving touches as gentle as an organic feather, and rougher, lustful strokes, the tyrant was careful with Optimus, making sure the Prime underneath him overloaded at least twice before plunging into that weeping port.

Optimus cried out as his valve was filled so fully, the emptiness in him trying to spread but Megatron's presence chasing it away. Finally finding its chance it had been waiting for for many joors, the Matrix of Leadership joined Megatron's presence and chased away the stress and sadness. Loving warmth spread through the young mech as these two forces, so different and yet with the same goal, seared through him, chasing away his doubts and leaving behind only pleasure and love. Seeing and hearing his mate enjoying it so much, the Decepticon picked up the paste and Optimus screamed, begging for more, telling Megaron not to stop, never to stop, that it felt so good.

The Decepticon Supreme Commander more than enjoyed fulfilling his lover's demands. He went faster, harder, deeper, slowed down just to torture his mate and make him beg anew. Still not used to such pleasure, Optimus came, body taut and back arched into the larger mech, baring his neck to that talented intake. Megatron took the offering and lavished it with great attention while he slowed down, the oversensitive valve twitching around his spike. When more lubricants started pouring out from their joined interface equipment, Optimus bucked his hips, surprising Megatron with the movement and moaned at the feeling. Megatron couldn't keep in his own groan as he started up again.

It seemed like a small eternity before Megatron requested Optimus to open up his spark while kissing him senseless and Optimus had no qualms in doing so. The merge felt like coming home, but this time Optimus wanted the reassurance of another's spark so close to his so much that he never realized he made the Matrix back off and fully merged with Megatron. Without the protection of the Matrix, many of Optimus's secrets poured over the bond, but there were so many and were so strange that Megatron couldn't make heads or tails from one memory to the other. He knew he often saw eleven strange mechs and a femme all looking at him (in truth Optimus) with such love and affection he felt suffocated at the same time as he felt elevated, like he was flying. It was overwhelming, but Optimus had seemed to revel in it. He thought he had seen Alpha Trion among them, but he was not sure. He saw so many happy moments with these bots, then he saw their deaths, but it didn't look like the other memories of them looked. It was as if it was not Optimus who had witnessed their deaths, but rather that someone had given him these memories.

He felt two powerful presences in some memories, sometime together, but most of the times apart and he wondered what those were. He felt love and protectiveness from both, but he didn't know what to make of them. He saw a flash image of Cybertron with its six moons, saw something that looked like transformation seams on all seven orbs and knew not what they meant.

Among the strange things he saw in Optimus's mind, he saw Metroplex, an ancient city that had been abandoned centuries before even the first displeasure was shown for the mistreatment of warframes. He saw other strange cities, all similar but different, in the same way all the Omega Sentinels resembled each other but were still different. He was shocked when he saw what looked like flying beasts roaming Cybertron's skies, only to watch them leave and never see them again. He watched in fascination as the War for Freedom replayed to him like a movies, seeing enemies coming at him from both his own optics (Optimus's, he thought, not knowing that the memories were from Optimus's offlined brothers) and someone else's point of view. He watched a white form launch itself at the Quintessons and slash across the skies, a white explosion of energy destroying the attacking forces and forcing the Quintessons in retreat, then he watches a dark, almost black figure fly deep into Quitesson space and fire a cannon that strongly resembled Optimus's new weapon, leaving nothing but destruction and death in its wake.

Then, the Matrix whiplashed Megatron out of Optimus's most intimate memories of his days with his family, but Optimus still allowed his lover to see his new life.

Megatron felt rage building in him as he watched various sparklings and younglings ignoring and avoiding his little lover. He saw through someone else's optics as Optimus, so fragile and cute and oh so painfully small, sat alone under a cluster of crystals in Iacon's gardens, reading a data pad. The future Autobot Prime was then approached by a yellow and light purple femme, who plopped down beside him and started asking questions. If Optimus had not been cute before, he was downright adorable now, his cheeks flushed and his continuance flustered at someone talking with him. It was painfully obvious he was lonely and it tore up Megatron's spark to see such happiness at one person speaking to him.

He watched as the two sparklings became friends and realized that the femme must have been Blackarachnia, or Elita One as she had been called before. He observed how Elita all but dragged Sentinel to sit with her new, younger friend. Optimus flushed under the blue sparkling's scrutiny and bowed his head bashfully. Elita pushed Sentinel and the big-chinned sparkling started speaking with his little lover. Megatron found himself surprised to see both protectiveness and distaste growing in Sentinel as he got to know the red and blue adorable sparkling more and more, and as they grew up, he realized that it was not quite distaste or envy... Sentinel had spent most of his young life being jealous and feeling threatened by Optimus, his skill and friendliness to such degrees that he had started distancing himself from the other Autobot.

When Optimus's memories from his Academy days played, Megatron was surprised by how fast the bot was advancing in his classes. It earned him both admiration and hatred. Sentinel and Elita protected him from both admirers and haters, not wanting their friend to be involved with such crowds; Optimus was so innocent back then, yet never naive. He was even more surprised when the VR simulation of a fight with him came up.

For all that he was inexperienced, the little Prime held better than any other cadet had that day. The simulation started from the basic level, one Megatron was disgusted to see that the Autobots truly thought he had even when he was overcharged so much he couldn't walk in a straight line. The level of skill to test would grow and the simulation itself was built from Megatron's previous battles so it held his strategies when fighting, his moves, his taunts, his strengths and his weaknesses that were far too well protected for even experienced warriors to hit. Optimus had fought last that day, many a cadets going in before him and taunting everyone that they would show the losers how it's done, only to leave the chamber with their proverbial tails between their legs.

Optimus had bee vibrating with excitement that day, not being able to wait patiently for his turn. Elita and Sentinel teased him for his eagerness, but the other was in too good a mood to be bothered, even by Elita's innuendos (she must have already found out about Optimus's crush by then) and Sentinel's increasingly hostile mocking. Their drill sergeant - Kup, Optimus's memories provided him with the old mech's name - had teased Optimus as well that he lived up to his name with his optimism that this VR would teach them something, when the plan was to show them the horrors of Decepticon might and just why they were to be stopped. He had kept it secret that the Magnus had come to observe them, but the Autobot Commander had shown an interest in Optimus (this was once again from another mech's point of view and Megatron began to wonder just who it was that had observed this), his scores and his grades, so he had made sure to pay extra attention when he and his friends were up next.

Sentinel had been the first to face the VR Megatron and the real warlord would have laughed his aft off when he saw that the big-chinned Prime so full of himself was thrown out no sooner than the rest of the pathetic Autobots that became part of the Elite Guard later on. He hadn't even taken out his swords.

The VR Megatron just as easily defeated Elita One, so much as throwing her out of the VR chamber in less than a breem. It would seem that the record on this exercise was a breem, three kliks and five nanoseconds.

'Pathetic, that this is the army fighting my Decepticons.'

When Optimus was called up, the whole room quieted down, everyone anticipating how their star cadet would fail. Megatron sneered as viciously as Elita had and the only thing stopping the femme from making a scene was Sentinel holding her back. As Optimus stepped into the VR chamber, Ultra Magnus walked into the waiting room to get a better look at the young cadet. The red and blue mech was preparing himself, but he had yet to take out his weapon, as his instructor reprimanded him for it. When the cadet didn't follow the instruction that was slowly turning into an order, Ultra motioned for the VR simulation to begin.

The glass doors closed behind Optimus and the mech's battle mask slid in place and Megatron felt Optimus's excitement and nervousness at facing a Decepticon, even if only a sparing program. He felt his spark beat quickening and realized that Optimus had truly loved him for a very long time as he watched the future Prime dodge the simulation's first swing.

The battle he watched was a weak and childish version of their many conflicts over the time they had personally known each other. Optimus was notably more skilled than any of the other cadets before him, showing tactical thinking and research in the way he seemed to know what to expect. He had watched all fights very carefully, studying the VR and comparing it to the holovids he had seen in the Archives, finding the flaws he could use and trying to remember the simulation's weaknesses. It paid off and the scientist behind the simulator had to rapidly up the level of skill for the little Prime to compete with. By the time Optimus 'died', the system was overheating and although he was teased for losing, the teasing stopped when it was revealed that he had made the greatest score in Academy history.

He watched as the other mature, he saw the incident that kicked him out of the Academy and the Elite Guard forever, observed Optimus's first interaction with his new team, and he found the Prime even more attractive and desirable than before. He watched their first fight, saw the bravery, the defiance and the stubbornness all over again and remembered being stunned by such traits in such a pretty and frail looking Autobot.

Their many clashes after that, Optimus's life on Earth,the Elite Guard's attempts at making him submit and lie being thwarted (Megatron was very glad that his actions against Starscream had kept the young Autobot on Earth so he can fight him again, even if it had ended up with him defeated and an Autobot prisoner) and their final battle, Optimus's reluctance to use the Magnus Hammer, everything, flashed by just as quickly as the other memories had, but Megatron could make them out since he had some idea what they were. The return to Cyertron and finding it even worse off than it had been hen he had left, seeing the paranoia and reading Megatron's old speeches, searching for the original, uncensored records...

Then came the realization of what Megatron's fate might be, the horror that he had had a servo in it, not wanting to see Megatron neither enslaved nor dead, the defiance in the Council Chamber, his kidnapping, his interaction with Primal Major, the old bots death and everything else from that point on... Megatron saw and relived it all with his little lover.

And he felt the insecurities, the fear of being left alone, and the Decepticon realized that Optimus was petrified by the thought that Megatron might find something that will make the tyrant leave him. Megatron couldn't have cared less if Optimus was a serial killer, as long as the Prime loved him and as long as Megatron could hold him. He sent such reassurances to his lover, hoping that Optimus will never doubt his place in Megatron's spark.

Meanwhile, Optimus had been drowning in Megatron, his love for him and the warlord's memories. They weren't as overwhelming to the Prime as Optimus's were for Megatron. There was nothing even comparably ancient there as there was in Optimus's life before time began. He still enjoyed Megatron's brief sparklinghood, loved seeing his mate so passionate, even if it was only in the throws of battle. He observed his mate's interactions with his brother and his now High Command, and he watched sad, as Megatron had to banish his spark twin. Megazarak had seemed like a fine mech and Optimus wouldn't mind at all meeting his new brother by bond (A/N: Equal to a brother in law). He was glad to see that he had survived, although he had known that Megazarak was alive when Megatron told him what had caused Ultra Magnus to look stupefied during the party after he had completed his mission. He got some memories from him, as well, a result of being bonded to one of the split-spark twins. He was surprised by how close Starscream and Megatron had once been and was glad to feel his bonded's relief at getting loyal friend back.

The tyrant's initial meeting with Lugnut must have been Optimus's favorite memory, seeing as the big, lumbering Decepticon had flattened Megatron to the ground when he was first delivered to the Gladiatorial Arena in Kaon and Megatron had tore into him quite viciously for it while Megazarak laughed off to the side. It was surprising that the spark-twins and Lugnut had arrived there at about the same time, while Strika had already been there for a long time. She had observed as the very much impressed and enamored Lugnut started following his new lord and master, annoying Megaron to no ends and amusing his twin just as much. However, Megatron changed his attitude towards the lumbering Decepticon when Lugnut stopped one of Megatron's soon-to-be opponents from killing the future Deceptcion Lord in his recharge. Lugnut had been all to thrilled to stay even closer to the gray mech, once again annoying the warmonger, but Megatron stopped snapping at him all the time and over time grew somewhat fond of the purple and green warframe.

Strika surprised Optimus with hating Megatron at first, having believe the younger of the new spark-twins to be arrogant and too demanding. His charisma, as well as his brother's, had started gathering them followers and both brothers wanted a reform, freedom for their fellow warbuilds, and were more than willing to fight for it. Both had quite the silver glossa and they drew other in like flame does to cybermoths. She had expressed her distaste for the twins and Megazarak had only sneered at her, challenging her to a fight, but Megatron had seen her potential, had seen in her his future General of Destruction that was feared even by the infamous DJD, and he had insisted that instead of Strika fighting against him or his brother, she fight just one match with them.

The big femme had accepted the challenge, thinking that if he saw her prowess, Megatron would be intimidated and stop this foolishness before it made things even worse for them. They had fought, he, Strika and Lugnut against some team from Tarn, and they had won. Strika had not spoken to either him or to his for now most loyal follower after the victory, but she had turned up whenever it was only Megatron speaking. She, too, once saved him, but from a guard who was payed to injure Megatron so the up-to-now undefeated Champion of the Pits in Kaon was defeated by Tyger Pax's champion. When asked why, she said she would not allow her Lord's name be sullied with such a disgraceful defeat.

She never left his side since.

Optimus experienced Megatron's loses with every defeat in the war, his anger at the extinguished sparks of his warriors, the awe and fear he had felt at the Omega Sentinels, the reluctant admiration he had for Autobot Space bridges. He saw Megatron's first encounter with Swindle, how quickly the black merchant took a liking to the Decepticon Lord and how he always told Megatron first about any new merchandise he has. The purple-opticed mech proclaimed the warlord his favorite customer and was actually fond of him. Well, as fond as 'strictly business' can be.

Megatron's first experience with a bounty on his helm was rather interesting. It had actually been Lockdown who had tried his servo at capturing the Terror of Kaon. The bounty hunter had never lost a target to that point and was overconfident in his abilities and skills to capture the gray mech. He had set his sights on Megatron's Fusion Cannon, a one of a kind weapon none have seen before, created and shaped solely from Megatron's spark and was as thus impossible to replicate. Of course, Megatron wasn't Champion of the Arena for nothing and Lockdown found that out the hard way. However, impressed with his skills, Megatron paid the bounty hunter to instead kill the one who had ordered Megatron's death. Ever since, Lockdown mostly worked for the Decepticons, despite being ''neutral''.

All the loses, the defeats, the extinguished sparks and the destroyed cities... Optimus finally understood. He may be Prime, but he had never cared for more than a handful of sparks and it had always been Prima that held the title of leader. He had only been his right hand, so to speak, his second in command... And that had only been because the Matrix of Leadership quite literally couldn't be taken out of his body. Or at least that's what Optimus liked to tell himself. Even to this day, he didn't want to accept his natural ability to lead, and Optimus realized that it was actually the only thing standing in his way. He had confidence, he knew that from all his fights with the Decepticons, his bonded especially. He had skill, something he also knew because of their fights, but also because of his scores in the Academy. He was a leader, born for it, made for it... Yet he hesitates because he doesn't want the position, the responsibility it holds, the lives that are placed in his servos every day. He will essentially have power of life and death of his soldiers and that's not the type of power he would ever want.

The Matrix of Leadership warmed at his humble thoughts and gave him comfort, happiness radiating from the artifact at his reluctance to take power while others would thrive for it. The presence of the artifact was a Primus-sent blessing he would always be thankful for. A small eternity with the item in his chest, protecting his spark, had gotten him used to its power and company. When he had awoken as a clueless sparkling, he had known something essential was missing, and for the first time he was not referring to the sparks that should have been in the place of the void.

Optimus made his decision when he felt Megatron trying to inspect said void. It had brought him out of the Decepticon's memories and Optimus had realized, Prime or not, being a leader was hard for everyone. He had lost Alpha Trion and the rest of his Prime brethren, however, he was not the only one who had lost a sibling. Megatron had had to force his own split-spark twin away so he would have to kill Megazarak and Starscream had lost his wingmates, their sparkling, his own bonded and their sparkling. Ratchet had almost completely lost Omega, Ultra Magnus had lost Sigma, like many other mentorbots had with their own Omega Sentinel. How many others had loved and lost, but never gave up?

Was Optimus really going to give up? On the things he believed in? On the way he had always lived his life? On the way of the Primes? Was he going to throw away everything he and his brothers and sister had worked so hard for? Leave both Primus and Unicron to whatever sick plans and experiments Quintessa had for them? Leave Quintus's, Prima's, Alpha Trion's, Amalgamous's, Alchemist's and Megatronus's (direct or indirect) killer walk away unpunished? Disappoint his family, both old and new? Was he seriously going to leave Megatron to fight this battle without him?

No, Optimus Prime was not going to give up, not going to quite. He was not going to run and leave it to others to deal with his own problems. He wasn't going to abandon his race, his friends, his family... his bonded. He will fight. He will avenge his family and fallen friends and make Quintessa wish Quintus had never given her body life. He will fight to unite his people, fight to lead them back on track of the First Generation, teach them of Primus and Unicron and his twelve fallen brethren.

Many have said that the Era of Primes is done, that the Dynasty is dead.

Well, Optimus was alive and he was a Prime, the Thirteenth Prime. The Last Prime.

It was about time the Universe learned that.

When they overloaded, neither Optimus nor Megatron were able to reboot for a full five breems, the full connection too much for the tyrant and Optimus far too lost in his own thoughts and plans for the future to recover faster. He, however, was the first to online his optics, determination filling them. Megatron was still clutching him close, providing the comfort Optimus had so desperately needed, showering him with love through their bond even though there was no conscious thought from the warlord yet. Optimus brought up his blue servo to gently caress his lover's faceplate, enjoying in the blissful expression on those usually tense features. It made him look a lot younger and made him even more handsome.

As much as Optimus wanted to stay where he was, he couldn't. Not yet. There was something he had to do first. With one last caress, Optimus leaned in and kissed those surprisingly soft lipplates oh so tenderly that it might as well been a brush of a Earth bird's feather. Before he got off of the tyrant's lap (Megatron must have shifted them sometime during their merge because Optimus was pretty sure he had been underneath his bigger lover when they had started. Not that he minded. He very much liked his new perch), Optimus focused deep within himself and found the void he had had to live with his whole function. It had been painful all this time, and it still was, but Optimus now saw the tendrils of other bonds around the void. The one that lead to Megatron was the strongest, of course, but he could see his bond with his team, with his crew, his trine, with Blackarachnia/Elita, the almost formed bond with Sentinel... The severed bond that had only started developing with Primal Major, his life-long bond of friendship and companionship with Roller...

Optimus suddenly realized he had never really been alone. Even if he had no brethren, it did not mean he had no family. Especially if that small tendril he saw near Megatron's meant what he thought it meant.

So with one last look at the void, Optimus allowed the Matrix to sooth it into the very back of his spark and processor and for the first time since he had onlined as a clueless, innocent sparkling... Optimus felt whole... He didn't feel that void, it was there, he knew, but it no longer could cloud his spark with longing for something he had thought he could never again have while he actually had something equally as precious. It was there, and it will always be there, but it will no longer represent Optimus's lost life, but rather everything he must continue fighting for, because that void was there because his brothers and sister wanted there to be something for Optimus to fight for, live for and be happy about.

As the awareness of the void vanished from his mind, Optimus got up. He stood as straight as a board, shoulders drawn back, head proudly looking forward, not titled down nor were his optics cast away to not meet any other. No, everything of Cadet Optimus and Optimus Prime, the Autobot commander was gone, erased, swiped under an invisible, proverbial rug, where it will lay forgotten until it forever vanishes. Instead, the Last Prime stood, ready to face the Universe and put it in its place for how astray it had gone.

The waves of determination and power radiating from his lover finally kick started Megatron's CPU and he was just aware enough to see Optimus leaving his room. Although he felt no distress from the smaller mech, Megatron rushed after him, not knowing if the other was upset over something. That one last shield that had been brought down in Optimus's desperation for more contact and reassurance was brought back up again and it frustrated Megatron that he couldn't knock it down, that he still didn't have a clue as to what was hidden behind that final barrier.

He followed his lover's brisk pace with ease, the other's stride smaller than his, but the former Autobot was in a hurry so Megatron had to walk at a brisk pace himself. He was surprised where they were heading. He followed his lover without a word to the elevator that served as the only connection between the three Omega Sentinels and wondered what Optimus could possibly want on the Steelhaven.

A startled Ultra Magnus greeted them as they exited the elevator, the blue and white Commander just having wanted to check in on the bonded pair. One look from Megatron both reassured him that they were fine and that he was to keep away from the little Prime. The Magnus nodded, but followed behind them just to see where they were heading. The heavy pedesteps of the two Supreme Leaders of both factions drew many of the inhabitants of the vessel to peek out of their rooms, but a look from both leaders had them hastily going back to whatever they had been doing.

Optimus paid no mind to them, however. He just continued, seeing the confrontation in his mind in a way almost similar to Alpha Trion and Onyx's abilities allowed them to, all the good ways it could go, all the terrible outcomes, the tragedy that could occur if he was not careful... or the most optimal and optimistic way this all could end.

When he arrived in the holding block of the Steelhaven, very much aware that Sigma was watching his every move due to Ultra Magnus's request, Optimus stopped right in front of their Quintesson prisoner.

''Thamast.''

He had been awake for hours, glaring at one dot on the wall and ignoring any forms of communication, be it bringing in fuel or interrogation and taunts of the Elite Guard. The sneers from the Decepticons had earned them a twitch of an optic shutter, but that was it. Now, however, at hearing the authoritative voice of a true Prime that was responsible for his predicament, Thamast jumped to his feet and charged at Optimus. The energy field separating them launched the Quintesson into the far wall of his cell, making him grunt in pain before he glared up at Optimus.

''Prime.'' He spat it out like it was stale energon.

Optimus didn't even blink at the tone. Instead, he turned of the energy field and walked up to the Quintesson, ignoring the powering up of Megatron's Fusion Cannon or the whir of battle protocols coming online. He wasn't worried. Even if Megatron hadn't been here as backup (which he hadn't asked for but was grateful for the support and thought behind it), Optimus could have easily dealt with the Quntessonian Prince. It was far too easy to subdue the thrashing Prince and put stasis cuffs on him, before dragging him out still trying to kick at the Prime's legs.

He was screaming profanities in his birth language and no one but Optimus understood a thing he said, but everyone who now stood in the doorways of their rooms recognized the tone of voice meant to insult and belittle, but Optimus ignored the many curses to his name and to his family. He simply dragged the cuffed Quintesson back to the elevator and up to Alpha Supreme, who activated his internal weapon systems should the green-optic mech try something. On his own ship, his crew and Shockwave (who was staying with Blurr in his room) watched as Qunitessa's only son and heir was led like a very badly behaved sparkling forced into stasis lock (he thought he heard Shockwave tell Blurr that it was like when Decepticons use the sparkling lock on their flier sparklings) to the shuttle bay.

The shuttle bays of all three shipformers were now full of both fuel and other resources, as well as the things they had managed to salvage from the blown up Quintesson ships, including weaponry and communications systems. Shockwave had been able to hack them with ease and they found out quite a few of Quintessa's plans by reviewing their communications from earlier. It was all recorded and nicely wrapped up with a big bow for the Decepticon spy. There were also three escape pods that had survived the supernova like explosion, but no Quintessons had been in them. Two needed to be repaired to be fully functional, but one was in almost perfect condition.

It was in front of this stasis pod that Optimus stopped and showed the mech he had been dragging into. Thamast looked at him with confusion, finally stopping his screaming of insults. ''What are you doing?'' The Prince asked the Prime as Optimus set coordinates for Cybertron. Even if he set it off right now, Thamast will not arrive for another moth to the edges of Autobot Commonwealth's territory, let alone to Quintessa's ship. However, Optimus wasn't going to just let him drift through space until he got to his mother's warship.

''Sending you off to your mother. I have no time for brats.''

''How dare you!?'' Thamast indignatly screamed, forgetting he was stasis cuffed and tried trashing again, only for the cuffs to not only restrain him but also send a shock through his systems. It casued him to grunt, but he still glared at Optimus. ''Do you know who you are talking to!?''

''Yes, I do. I'm talking to a brat who has forgotten how to show proper respect to his elders.'' The Quint flinched as he was reminded of just who he was talking to, averting his green gaze away from the royal blue optics of the Last Prime.

''Why are you sending me to my mother? So she could be disappointed in me for allowing a Prime to stay online despite him being in my reach?'' Thamast asked, still refusing to meet those older than time optics. ''You might as well just kill me now. I can't live with the failure.''

''Well, that is not true.'' Green optics finally met blue as the gray mech looked at his red and blue flame covered captor. ''No one died because they failed, so you won't be the first. As for why I won't offline you, I believe I have caused enough grief to both you and your mother, not to mention Artemis, by killing your uncle Pepest. I don't want to give you and your kind even more reasons to kill my kind, especially since there was no real reason to begin with.''

''What are you talking about!'' Thamast yelled, not liking how he was being treated like a child. He was a damn, fully grown adult and he was going to be treated as such, slag it all! ''Your brother, Quintus, created us to be you Cybertronians's slaves! How else was my mother to act other than collect mecha and attack him!?''

''Quintus loved life above all else.'' Optimus calmly told him, sitting at the edge of the opening of the pod. ''He hated violence and waste of life. He was a scientific dreamer, desired a life-filled Universe where he could observe the life around him, the way it evolves and the way those individuals all behaved, how they changed, how they learned and felt... He would rather tear out his own spark than allow life to be wasted in pointless wars that have been going on throughout the Universe, especially this war between our own species. He would really hate this. Do you know why he didn't fight back as fiercely as he could have?''

Thamast, calmed by Optimus's voice and interested in the answer, leaned closer and shook his head no. He didn't know, but he would like to find out. His mother, Pepest, or any other Quintesson had never talked about their creator, the tenth Prime. He knew nothing beyond that Quintus had created them as slaves for his own kind, but Optimus was saying that wasn't true. Who was he to believe? Then again, Artemis had always been so very protective of his 'Lord Quintus's' reputation and name, always refusing to throw away the loyalty he felt for a dead mech and constantly saying he had not deserved his fate. Had his mother been wrong?

''Quintus could have destroyed your entire species if he had just used his Emberstone to reverse the effect it had had in giving you life... But he loved the species he had created. And he loved Artemis.'' Thamast gasped, not believing what he was hearing. ''Yeah, I was just as shocked when I found out. In his care to make his thirteenth creation as perfect as he could, he had grown attached to it, had accidentally given it a spark... A spark that today gives your uncle life. Artemis was treated differently, so he was attached to Quintus as much as my brother had grown attached to him. They spent all their time together, and with orns and then vorns... they fell in love. Because Artemis's spark was too weak for a bond, they never could got that one final step that would have proclaimed Artemis a true Cybertronian, minus the ability transformation.'' Optimus sighed, looking down before meeting Thamast's rounded optics, childish curiosity he recognized similar to his own both as a sparkling in this life, and as a learning youngest Prime in his last. Optimus smiled at him, if a bit sadly. It was time to get his point across. ''If he had killed your mother and her followers, that would have thought Artemis the one thing Quintus had never wanted his creation to learn, the one thing he regretted he and his own brothers had learned: to kill.''

''Why did he regret learning that?''

''Because killing separated us from two of our siblings. Solus Prime and Liege Maximo died needless deaths, Micronus and Onyx were going to follow them soon... Then I created the Allspark, thus in a way destroying myself... My brothers, the ones who remained, all went their own ways, after some time... Then Quintus created your kind and he cared for them, until Quintessa decided she wanted ultimate power, ultimate knowledge... She learned how to build more of your kind and killed my brother... The others soon died after Quintus, Prima first among them, protecting his people.''

''I killed one of your brothers as well. Why don't you hate me?''

Optimus's optics turned cold, scaring the young Quintesson. ''Hatred has tainted my own brethren, my own species... If there is anything I will ever hate, it is hatred itself. It is a useless emotion that only separates love, destroys worlds and harmony of the Universe. It is hatred that had ultimately separated Unicron and Primus, as well. So, no. I don't hate. Not you, nor anyone else.'' He locked dead serious optics full of wisdom on his younger companion. ''Hating is easy, Thamast. Forgiving is much harder.''

''But how do you forgive when you never felt forgiveness? Mother never forgives me my failures!'' He felt so frustrated! He should just ignore everything this Prime was telling him, ignore and forget this whole conversation! But he couldn't... He just couldn't. Why had his mother never taught him forgiveness? Why had she always been so harsh, when a complete stranger was being so gentle and understanding with him. He had killed this mech's last remaining brother... Why did he forgive him? What is forgiveness?!

He didn't even realize he had asked that last question out loud until Optimus took hold of his bound servos and brought it up to his own chasiss. He could feel that powerful spark beating beneath the red plating, but it seemed muted, somehow. ''I am forgiving you right now, Thamast. It is understanding one's wrong and deciding that they deserve redemption, that they deserve a second chance, a chance to make it better, to fix what was damaged... be it emotionally or physically. And when you forgive or are forgiven... a heaviness vanishes from your chest, a heaviness you were not even aware was there. Your feel relief.''

Thamast stared at the protective plating hiding the Last Prime's spark and wondered how it was to have a spark. Would his emotions be stronger? ''Why can you forgive me? I killed your brother.'' He asked weakly.

''Because you did it out of anger... I lost two siblings to anger.''

''What about the others?''

''I lost them to Quintessa's greed. And for that she will pay. But I will not kill a mech who might want to redeem himself.''

Thamast broke. He sobbed and sobbed, leaning towards Optimus and silently begging forgiveness. Optimus in return just petted his helm, making soothing noises. Neither noticed Artemis crying in the doorway, partially hidden by Megatron's bulk. Neither really cared at the moment. After Thamast calmed down, he looked at Optimus in a new light. ''If you can forgive me killing your last brother... Then I can forgive you for killing my father figure.''

Optimus nodded at him. ''I'm going to put you in stasis now. However, I have a message for you to deliver to your mother.''

Thamast looked nervous and frightened at what his fate will be, but he knew that Optimus won't kill him. Not intentionally, anyway. ''What is the message?''

Optimus's voice turned cold, flat and so scary and dark that everyone flinched. ''Tell her that Justice is a sharp sword, that the Hunter never loses its pray and that the Era of Primes is far from over.'' The words were in standard galactic so everyone would understand them and Artemis's and Thamast's optics widened at such a bold proclamation. Thamast didn't understand it all, but he knew that just the last part will unsettle his mother. ''Goodbye, now, Thamast.'' And before the younger Quintesson could respond, Optimus closed the pod and activated the emergency preservation systems, knocking Thamast into stasis lock.

Optimus turned to his audience and nodded at them. ''I will be right back.'' He took a hold of the pod and lifted it up onto his shoulderstruts before walking out of the shuttle bay. He activated his boosters as soon as he was outside, hurrying into the atmosphere, where he activated the Blades of Time. Opening a rift in reality, Optimus sent the pod through space and time, sending it to the edges of Autobot space and letting its programing lead it to Quintessa's ship. He observed the rift for a moment before closing it and making sure it stayed closed. Not feeling up to a long flight, Optimus opened another near his ship and transported through space and time, then closed it like he had earlier. He walked into his ship and headed straight for his room, knowing that Megatron will follow him.

He sent a ping to Artemis that they will talk in the morning and a message that ordered his crew to go back to recharge since tomorrow was a big day. He ignored the little cheers he heard, although they warmed his spark and tugged his dermas up into a smile, as he and Megatron walked back into his room. He shut and locked the door before crawling onto the berth, swaying his aft at the Decepticon. The sound of that powerful flight engine revving made him shiver and he looked coyly over his shoulder. Those red optics were trying to devour him whole and Optimus only got even more aroused by the idea.

''Will you stand there all night just watching me or will you join me in berth?''

He yelped when Megatron pounced on him.

00000

''I called this meeting because today, we are going to Cybertron in order to drive away the Quintessons.''

This sentence was met with loud cheers and Optimus had to hide his smile unless he encouraged them to do this longer. It had been joors since he had sent off Thamast to his mother, and knowing Quintessa and all her Quintessons, the thought of a justice-seeking Prime will put them in a panic and that might be lethal to Cybertron, so they had to act fast.

However, he couldn't fault them for their new cheer. They had all thought that the loss of Alpha Trion would push Optimus over the edge and that he will give up. They feared it. They had come all the way out here, searching for him, the one mech who had defeated the feared Megatron in hopes that he, too, will be able to defeat the Quintessons as well. His team from Earth had practically worshiped the dirt he walked on after pushing Megatron through the space bridge, the Jettwins did the same after he returned with the titan as his captive and Ratchet had insisted many a times when he had seen the old war-field medic that he was a beacon of hope to the Autobots still fighting against the Decepticons all throughout the galaxy. They had all decided that no one other than Optimus can lead them through this and said Prime didn't know weather he should be terrified or flattered by such trust and faith.

Unfortunately, even he won't be enough to end this fight in one battle. And that's why they were having this meeting. He was going to let them know of some of his plans, maybe a few secrets and he was going to need all the help the could get, Autobot and Decepticon.

When they finally quieted down, Optimus rose from his seat and looked every mech and femme directly in the optics. He saw the same faith he had known was there and he saw the hope of finally going home, of having peace and equality in their species. He saw a desire, a longing, for a united Cybertron and that gave him more strength than even the Matrix of Leadership could ever hope to give him.

''Despite us now having the support of the Decepticon Empire, Cybertronian forces are still very much weakened due to our four million stellar cycles of none stop war. The Quintessons have been careful to chose a moment when to strike, and while they had been hoping for Decepticon help,'' Said Decepticons all growled in disgust. ''Due to thinking that Megatron's trail would mean instant execution or slavery,'' The Elite Guard members who were part of the council all flinched from the flat look sent their way that was all but screaming at them 'I TOLD you so!' for both the Prime and his fallen brother. ''We have stopped such a disaster by postponing the farce of a trial that was meant to take place.''

''Thank you, Optimus.'' Megatron said, both proud and smug that his little lover had put the entire Council in their place and had gotten them a possibility at peace. The Decepticons all nodded their thanks as well, glad that they got their Lord back. Jazz sent him a thumbs up while the others all cheered. Normally, Optimus would be bashful at the attention, but those days were over. A Prime stood in front of his people, before a battle, thus Optimus didn't have the time to be embarrassed.

''The Quintessons many experiments over the centuries are giving the Autobots a hard time and the Decepticons can't help them because they are focusing their fire on the bigger warships entering our atmosphere. If this continues, we are looking at a repeat of the War for Peace, and this time we won't have neither the resources nor the heavy hitters that have helped us win the last time. Not to mention that the trust between Autobots and Decepticons is shaky at best. We need something big, something powerful and I know just what.''

''What's bigger than three Omega Sentinels?'' Bumblebee asked from his place beside Bulkhead and Blitzwing. Sari had decided to sit with Optimus and Megatron, preferring the higher perch on the Prime's shoulder. Besides, she still sometime felt like Optimus would vanish if someone wasn't physically touching him. His stunt last night was probably what caused this impression all over again.

''A fleet of Omega Sentinels.'' A round of gasps and questions followed but Optimus only raised a servo. ''I know what you're all thinking and I am asking you to stop thinking that this instant. I don't know what sort of lives you've all led, not fully anyway, but you should probably get it out of your CPUs that miracles can't happen. They've been happening to me since I onlined, so I know that they exist. You just need to have faith.''

''And what if a miracle doesn't happen?'' Strika challenged, not at all liking gambling like this. They didn't know how much of that strange energy Optimus had, nor how many Supremes can be revived at all, and a promised fleet with those variables was not something that she would count on. Still, the other had a point about one thing. Miracles were all about faith. Alpha Trion had once told her the same, right before Lugnut and Megatron found her all those years ago.

Optimus looked at her directly in the optics and Strika felt a strange urge to avert her optics or bow in submission. She wanted to snarl at the urge. ''Everything happens for a reason. Nothing is consequential.''

She growled. ''You're just like your mentor.''

Optimus smirked. ''I'll take that as a compliment. And yes, yes I am.'' He turned serious as soon as the joke was over. ''I know that this is a big risk, especially since the amount of either the Allspark's energy or the Omega Lock's energy is very much limited... However, I wasn't planing on making a promise I can't keep. I know this is much of me to ask, but... I need you to trust me!'' The words had a greater impact than anything else could have had. ''It is hard to accept something you can't see, you can't calculate or you can't control on your own, but then again... Since when have we ever really been able to control anything?''

Silence met the question.

''We need the fleet, and I'll provide us with the fleet. However, I need you guys to trust me and to hold off the Quintessons from Iacon as long as you can. That's where they'll go first, in order to take control of the Space Bridge Nexus and our main HQ Command Center. Now, I need you to distribute your forces here, here and here.'' He showed on a map of Cybertron and one a separate map of Iacon where he wanted the troops to the Decepticons and Autobots alike. ''The Archives mustn't fall. There's a secret passage there that will give us an advantage if we use. It leads throughout Iacon like so.'' He showed the underground tunnels Alpha Trion had used to help Ultra save Megazarak. ''With the usage of these tunnels, we can move faster and without detection. Send these maps for our troops to use as we speak, so that they can study it and prepare for our arrival.''

Cliffjumper nodded and called Cybertron while Shockwave did the same to all the commanding ships of the Decepticon armies. Ultra Magnus and Megatron kept sending affirmations of the orders and then the two bots got the new status on the battlefields.

''We won't go straight to Iacon when we get planet-side. I need to go to another location but I suggest that the rest of you get to Iacon as soon as you can. Three Omega Sentinels will be able to help hold off the squids long enough for the help I'm hoping to get to arrive, then I'll get right to it in reviving the rest of the Supremes. Send messages that all Omega Sentinel mentorbots still alive are to be in Iacon by the time we get planet-side, because I won't take long at the other location. I don't care if their ships have been blown to smithereens, they are to come with any traces of the ship, a piece of plating, a scrap of circuitry, a screw, anything. For the ships whose mentorbots are deactivated, Artemis is to choose a replacement, be it either from this group gathered here, or any other Bot or Con he finds worthy. If the Council has anything to say to that, pass them to me. I'll deal with them.''

A few uncertain looks were exchanged but everyone nodded none the less.

''But first, before we go to Cybertron, we need to make two stops.''

''What?!'' Brawn bellowed. ''Are you crazy? We don't have anymore time for your pleasure cruse through space!'' He smacked his fist on the conference table they were all sitting at. ''We're at war, slag you!'' A smack was heard. ''Ow!''

Blurr tutted at him. ''No swearing on this ship.''

''Frag you and your slagging-OW!'' Brawn clutched his helm. ''Stop it!''

''Thank you, Blurr.'' Optimus nodded at his communications officer, before getting back down to business as if the interruption hadn't happened at all. ''The first stop will be Earth, were we will collect the Constructicons and the Dinobots, as well as Soundwave and Wreck-Gar. A few weapons upgrades by Professor Sumdac wouldn't be bad, either, or a few more jetpacks.''

''You can't be serious.'' Surprisingly enough, it was Megatron who spoke up against his lover this time. ''Those robots, while partly Cybertronian, are relatively useless. Well, except for Soundwave. I wouldn't mind placing him in my ranks.''

''The Dinobots are strong and the Constructicons might be of use if we need immediate shelter built, or anything else for that matter.'' Optimus told him flatly, giving him an equally flat look. ''We just need to restrain that Dirtboss mech and get Grimlock to listen to us, both of which will also be my responsibility. I would also suggest you and Professor Sumdac clear the air between you two, because I am taking him with us. We need more scientists at hand.''

''But-''

''Do you want to sleep on the couch?'' Bumblebee asked, not believing that Megatron was resisting this so much when it was a sound plan. The others all snickered, even the Decepticons and Megatron deflated even as he growled at both his mate and at the yellow speedster.

''Wouldn't it be wiser to let me deal with the Dinobots?'' Prowl asked, wanting to understand why it wasn't him that was to be sent to get them.

''Or me, for that matter?'' Blackarachnia added, inspecting her digits. ''They do listen to everything I tell them to do.''

''Believe me when I tell you that we don't need them tricked into this, or seduced.'' Optimus told them both with pointed looks and the two shrank back. ''We don't have the time for that. Besides, I want you all to spend as much time as you can searching for the remaining pieces of the Allspark. I'll be on the lookout for them as well, but I have a few other things to do. Actually,'' Optimus looked to Strika then Megatron. ''I think I'll leave Dirtboss to the tender mercies of the General and the Emperor of Destruction. He does wear your symbol.'' The grin on his face was vicious for such a young looking bot.

''You can't be serious!'' Bulkhead yelped. ''Boss-bot!''

''I take up the challenge, gladly.'' Megatron said with his helm held high.

Optimus smirked. ''Good. You'll take Bulkhead with you, so you two don't intimidate the Constructicons too much.''

''I'll just offer them more oil.''

His mate shrugged. ''Do as you please, but get them here in one piece. I'll leave Soundwave to you, as well. That mech is obsessed with you, for Primus's sake.'' He glared and Megatron delighted in the little show of jealousy and possessiveness in his lovely Prime's optics. ''After we leave Earth, I want the current location of the Decepticon Justice Devision-''

''WHAT?!'' The scream came from everyone present, including the three Omega Sentinels.

Megatron was upon his mate in a second. ''I am not allowing you to go anywhere near the DJD!''

''Too bad.''

''Optimus-!''

''Megatron.''

''Tarn will kill you on sight!'' The tyrant finally screamed his fears out, clutching his mate to his chest just at the thought. ''He won't care. To him you are just another Autobot! He won't hesitate and if you die-''

Optimus stopped Megatron by placing a single digit on Megatron's intake, surprising the Decepticon. ''I don't fear Tarn.'' Jaws hit the floor all around the room and many started to protest, but Optimus wasn't listening. He only had optics for a panicking Megatron. ''His special ability won't affect me, and if I could defeat you in battle, then I can take him on as well.'' Megatron was about to speak, probably to once again question Optimus's sanity, but his mate cut him off. ''Besides, Tarn is a fanatic, yes?'' A nod. ''And he respects you more than anything, yes?''

''No, Tarn loves the Cause above all else, he just thinks that I represent the Cause.''

''I'll take that as a yes, anyway.'' Optimus ignored the indignant look this got him and just smiled up at his lover. ''So if you tell Tarn not to kill me...''

''You're still just an Autobot to him.''

''I'm your bondmate.'' Was the annoyed reply.

''I said to him!''

''Can't you declare Optimus as your bonded or something?'' Hot Rod asked before the argument could become a cycle of useless statements. They were kind of on a scheduled here. ''You know, so that the Decepticons won't kill him?''

''While it can be done, yes, it can't be done easily.'' Cyclonus told his lover, hugging the Autobot Prime close to him. ''There would have to be a formal ceremony in which they bonded before all of the Decepticon Empire's commanders. It's quite public, but we don't usually care. Although, quite a few might care, considering it is Lord Megatron and he has such a lovely little thing for a bonded.'' Said Decepticon Lord glared at Cyclonus, but he wasn't phased. ''You know that it's the truth, my Lord. You haven't ever had a lover for more than one or two frags and your first real relationship is with an Autobot-''

''Not an Autobot.''

''- and one that is so pretty, most femmes would be jealous.'' Cyclonus finished as if he wasn't interrupted. ''He will be under constant scrutiny, and not just because he's an Autobot. They'll judge his skills in battle-''

''I defeated him on Earth four times!''

''- his leadership abilities, the way he interacts with Decepticons-''

''I'm a fragging mentorbot to a warmachnie of a sparkling!''

''-his intellect, his temper-''

''You're going to get a piece of my temper if you don't stop talking about me like I'm not here!''

''-his fertility-''

''Excuse me?!''

''- and his tactician abilities before they deem him worthy or not of the status of your Conjunx Endura. We warframes are very strict with our leaders's bonded, no matter who they had been up to that point. Do you think you can live up to the expectations of millions of warframes, all hungry for Autobot energon?''

Optimus stared at Cyclonus before snorting. ''Is that all?''

Many a pairs of red optics narrowed. ''Excuse me?''

''That's not much at all, considering what my own bonded would have to go through to even be allowed to go anywhere near me.''

''What?'' Megatron asked, not liking this idea at all.

Optimus nodded. ''Yeah, sure, Megatron would have to go through all those tests to, minus the fertility one, we're not barbarians, thank you.'' A growl from the Decepticons but the Prime only shot them an amused look. ''You would have to appeal to my Sire and Carrier the right to court me first, and believe me when I tell you that my Sire would rather destroy the Universe,'' Optimus snorted and rolled his optics at Artemis's snickers at the obliviousness of their companions of just who Optimus's Sire and Carrier were and at the very accurate statement. Yes, Quintus had told his secret lover everything, it would seem. ''And Carrier, I'm sure, would mope for centuries, if not millenia. Then you'd have to go through twelve, ahem, tests, chosen by, um, mechs and femmes I once considered siblings, and ... yeah, I'm not sure any of them would give you something easy to do. The easiest task you might find before you would be to cross the Sea of Rust, on foot, in two days, so, good luck with that.'' Jaws dropped all over again and no one even tried to pick them up. Optimus somehow looked both resigned and smug at the same time. ''And considering that two of them are very fierce warriors, you'd have to fight them, and seeing as they'd cut through or blow up stars to keep me safe and happy... Like I said, good luck with that.''

Megatron looked ready to bolt.

''And that's not even taking into consideration what Roller and Elita One would have put you through. Maybe even Sentinel?''

''I think that I would have asked him to just drink a cube after all of those horrible things he would have to go through.'' The blue and orange bot said with a sympathetic look towards Megatron, who looked almost sick with relief.

''And just imagine what his trine would put you through!'' Starscream exclaimed with a howl of laughter as he overbalanced in his chair and fell to the metal floor. He didn't seem to care, as he just continued laughing like a maniac, and just as he was about to stop, he saw the dawning look of horror on Megatron's faceplate and that had him starting all over again. He did eventually stop when he realized how First Aid was looking at him. He picked himself up and with a cough, sat up straight in his chair, looking all right and proper... Until Bumblebee and Blitzwing cracked up as well and he followed them back to the floor while the others now just glared at them.

''Hey, you said he 'would have to'.'' Sari spoke over the howls of laughter and Starscream's exclamation of ''Oh my poor tanks!'' from the floor on the other side of the table. ''Won't he still have to go through all of that?''

''Can he, please?'' Slipstream asked while holding her servos in front of her chestplates, clasped in the universal begging gesture. ''Please, please please?'' There was a rather scary glint in her optics and Megatron stepped away from his lover's TIC. He vented a sigh of relief when Optimus answered with a firm shake of his head in a very clear 'no'. ''Aww.'' She whined disappointedly and at the other side of the table, from her place between Ironhide and Sentinel, Blackarachnia pouted and sagged in disappointment. He shuddered to think what those two would have imagined for him to do in order to prove himself worthy for his little Prime.

The scariest part?

He would have done it without hesitation.

''No, Sari. He won't have to because the ones he must prove himself to the most are no longer among the online.''

''Oh. Sorry.'' Sari quickly said when she noticed the hurt that had now entered Optimus's optics. She placed her small armor-covered palm on his cheekplates and smiled at him, happy when he returned it with his own gentle smile he had always given her back on Earth. Wow, it seemed like an eternity ago when she had been spending her days teaching her cybernetic friends about organics, their strange customs and having fun teasing them. Teasing Optimus had always been her favorite thing to do with her Autobot friends. He was just so uptight all the time that when someone pulled a prank on him and it got him to smile... Sari swore that sometime it was like the sun had shone through rainy, angry clouds and lit up the Earth in its magnificent warmth and light.

''It's okay. I'm... still growing to get used to it.'' He said, still with that smile she loved seeing on his faceplates. It made him seem younger and more approachable... human, almost. She knew the comparison was very bad, but she had sometimes gotten the impression that Optimus was not like the other bots she had met, Autobot and Decepticon alike. For one thing, her Key had never reacted to anyone else the way it had to Optimus when he had offlined. The Allspark itself had revived Optimus that day, not her Key. And merging with her Key... She had always felt drawn to Optimus after that. It was scary, how the residual energy from the Allspark reacted to Optimus Prime, like he was not of this world, like he was of the same origin as the life-giving relic was.

''But that's not what we're supposed to be talking, or cackling,'' The tone got those who were rolling on the floor to immediately stop and stand up straight, throughly rebuked with only that one word. ''About. I'm going to the DJD ship, Peaceful Tyranny, with or without you giving them a heads up, and I apologize in advance if I leave your most feared squander of soldiers shaking in their plating by the time I'm done with them.''

''You're a fool, Autobot.'' Lugnut started one of his many speeches regarding Autobot foolishness and the greatness that is Megatron.

''For the last time! I am not an Autobot!'' Optimus yelled at Lugnut, effectively shutting him up. ''First, I have no Autobot badge anymore,'' He pointed to his blank, red shoulder, the blue flames ending there and seeming to dance on the polished surface. ''And second, even if I was still an Autobot, which I'm not, I have a name, Primus slag it! Optimus Prime. Remember it!'' The big heavy hitter nodded hastily and Optimus stopped glaring at him. ''Did the rest of you get that, or will I have to pound it into all of your helms individually?''

Angry took over and Blitzwing spat at the displeased Prime. ''I'd like to see you try, Autobot scum!''

Sick of the treatment, Optimus took out Liege Maximo's bow and the Liege Darts, took one of the stasis inducing ones and fired, all in less than a blink, hitting Blitzwing directly on the forehead. As soon as the Dart touched the surface, electrical shocks went through the mech and Blitzwing's head started spinning without control before he slumped to the floor, stopping at Icy. Everyone stared as the Dart returned to Optimus with a flick of his servo, both the energy bow and his arrows returning to his left gray compartment on his wrist.

''Anyone want to add something regarding the topic?''

Strika broke out laughing and walked over to stand by her shocked Commander and his bonded. ''I like you, Optimus Prime. I thin we would do good with someone like you in our ranks.'' She clapped him firmly on the back, and Optimus almost stumbled, would have stumbled had it not been for his Prime heritage.

''Thanks.''

''So you think you can take on the DJD on your own?''

''Well ,I was rather hoping that I would have a volunteer to go with me, to have my back if the situation turns sticky.'' Optimus admitted, warily dodging the servo that had stayed on his backstruts after Strika had patted him on the back.

Hot Rod immediately jumped up from his seat and thrust his servo high in the air. ''Oh, I will go with you!'' He soon realized how childish he must seem and lowered his servo, reset his vocalizer and said formally. ''I would like to accompany you to this very important mission, Optimus Prime, sir.'' The red and blue Prime just blinked at him and didn't even reset his optics when Cyclonus dragged his lover into his arms and started a similar argument like the one he and Megatron had had a few breems ago.

''Absolutely not!''

''Actually, I believe that Rodimus Prime would be the best choice for this mission.'' Ultra Magnus gave his opinion and tried not to cower under that red, hostile stare of one unhappy Cyclonus. ''He holds the records in all the fields-''

''No, I don't!'' Hot Rod hissed. ''Optimus does. I'm, like, 2500 points behind him in my specialty, let alone anything else!'' He points one digit at Optimus, who is shocked that his records were still the highest scores. It has been centuries since he had been kicked out of the Academy. ''Everyone knows that although his scores are removed from public view, that it is still his scores that are the highest, his records are what everyone is trying to beat, not mine! Slag, I spent my Academy days dreaming of either breaking one of his records, or meeting him!'' He then pointed to Ultra Magnus, still too pissed to care how he was addressing his superior. ''And my name is Hot Rod, not Rodimus! 'Chosen One' my aft!'' A smack was heard and Hot Rod yelped. ''OW! Blurr!''He whined but the sky blue racer just shrugged with a somewhat smug smile as he nestled back against Shockwave.

''I should have hit you two times, but since you're talking in my captain's defense, I decided to go easy on you.''

''Lucky me.'' He muttered, before turning to his lover. ''And you! I may be your lover, but that does not mean you get to control my life. I am my own mech, and I know that you worry for me, but just like you, I'm a warrior. You can't stop me from going out to the battlefield and doing my job.''

''But Hot Rod! If it was anything else, I would have let you be! This is DJD! Even I don't mess with them.'' Cyclonus cuddled his Autobot beloved. ''I don't want you near them. I don't want to lose you.''

Hot Rod smiled at his lover and kissed him on the olfactory sensor. ''And you won't. I'll be careful. If you want, you can warp in with Skywarp if we sound like we're having trouble. Both you and Megatron.'' He added as a small favor to the Decepticon Lord, who nodded at him. ''Okay?''

''Fine, but you must promise me to be extremely careful and not to taunt them.'' Cyclonus relented. ''And don't draw any unwanted attention to yourself.''

Hot Rod grinned. ''You got it.''

''Anything else you need, Optimus Prime?'' Ultra Magnus asked after he dodged that bullet, so to speak.

''Yeah, you not shooting whatever you see. Shoot QUINTESSONS and their creations, which will be listed, and nothing else. If I found out you shot down one of our own, I am going to make you wish you were never born.''

The Magnus's optics widened to the size of Helens's dinner plates. ''How did you know?''

''In your alt mode, I saw what would have been weaponry. Besides, you're bigger than most other Autobots can ever hope to get without upgrades.'' Optimus said with a shrug, ignoring the stupefied expressions from the other Autobots at finding their commander was half warframe. ''Alright them. Alpha Supreme, Omega Supreme, Sigma Supreme. Set course to warp to Earth in three joors, that's about when we'll leave this planet's sensor's range. Until then, you have free time to do as you wish, but you are not to leave the ships. Are we ready for lift off?''

''Yes Optimus.'' Was the reply and the powerful engines of three Omega Sentinels heated up before taking off.

Optimus nodded at the others before he exited the conference room, only to be stopped by his bonded's playful voice. He turned to look at the gray form of his lover looming over him and craned his neck cables a little to meet his optics. ''Yes, Megatron?''

''I've heard some interesting things about you and your tactical skills.'' Optimus raised an optic ridge at this and made a made a motion with his servo to indicate to the other to continue. He was acutely aware that everyone was now listening to their conversation, Ultra Magnus and Strika especially. What the frag was up with them? ''I hear that you are quite good at war-sims.''

''Yes?''

Megatron smirked at his lover. ''What do you say to a game, then? I would like to see if what I've been hearing is true.''

Everyone was now sitting at the edges of their seats, the gossips.

Optimus Prime smirked back at his bonded and gestured to one of the other unused rooms on the Axelon. ''Why don't we find out, then.''